Save the date(s): Breaking down the schedule

A bullet-point glance at the highlights of the Spurs’ 2010-11 schedule. To view it in its entirety, click here.

In the meantime, a bullet-point primer of the season’s most significant dates.

* Oct. 27, vs. Indiana. Normally, a home game against the Pacers isn’t one to circle on the schedule. This one is. It’s the season opener.

* Nov. 3, at Phoenix. Spurs meet the Suns for the first time since being swept from last season’s playoffs by them. Without Amare Stoudemire, however, this Phoenix team isn’t that Phoenix team.

* Nov. 6, vs. Houston. The first of four games against I-10 rival Houston. Spurs could see Yao Ming for first time since 2008-09 season.

* Nov. 26, vs. Dallas. The first of four games against I-35 rival Dallas. After last year’s playoff ouster, Mavs should have revenge on the brain.

* Dec. 23, at Orlando. The Spurs travel to the Magic Kingdom to face Dwight Howard and Co. on national TV.

* Dec. 28, Lakers. The first of four meetings against the two-time defending NBA champs, and the first of two at the AT&T Center.

*Jan 1, at Oklahoma City. The Spurs will spend the first day of 2011 in Oklahoma City, where they’ll face the up-and-coming Thunder. Kevin Durant is the league’s defending scoring champ.

* Jan. 5, at Boston. The Spurs face the defending Eastern Conference champions, and get their first look at Shaq O’Neal in Celtics green.

* Feb. 1, at Portland. The start of the nine-game rodeo road trip, which will also take the Spurs to face the Lakers, Sacramento, Detroit, Toronto, Philadelphia, Washington, New Jersey and Chicago before the All-Star break begins Feb. 18.

* March 4, Miami. The new-look Heat — with LeBron James and Chris Bosh flanking Dwyane Wade — make their first regular-season visit to San Antonio. The Spurs take their talents to South Beach on March. 14.

* April 12-13, at the Lakers and Phoenix. The Spurs close the regular-season with a tough western back-to-back. Last year’s playoff race went down to the final day, so these games could be key.

Other schedule notes …

* The slate offers the Spurs a chance to get out to a fast start. Six of the first eight games are against teams that failed to make the playoffs last season. One of those playoff teams — Phoenix — isn’t as scary as last season, thanks to the New York defection of Amare Stoudemire. The other playoff team in that stretch in Charlotte.

* Though the Spurs aren’t involved in any of the “marquee” games the league released last week, they will appear on national TV 22 times, including NBA TV games.

* The Spurs will play 18 back-to-backs, with three come during the nine-game rodeo road trip.

* Including the rodeo trip, the Spurs play 12 of 13 on the road from Jan. 22 to Feb. 17. Only home game in that stretch is Jan. 29 against Houston.

* Among the out-of-division Western Conference teams, the Spurs play the Lakers, Suns, Blazers, Nuggets, Warriors and Timberwolves the maximum four times. They face Oklahoma City, Utah, Sacramento and the L.A. Clippers three times apiece.

* The Spurs’ longest homestand of the season is six games from Dec. 3 to 15. The opponents: Minnesota, New Orleans, Golden State, Atlanta, Portland, and Milwaukee.